Green Light for evening flights to Srinagar International Airport

The Centre has approved the state government’s demand to start night landing facility at Srinagar International Airport (SIA).

“The Centre was deliberating over the issue from a long time and finally it has been decided to allow landing of commercial planes in the evening at Srinagar International Airport. The government has also issued directions to all the airline companies in this regard,” sources said.

Recently the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, had also directed the Airport Authority of India to explore the modalities for starting night operations at SIA. The officers of Indian Air Force in reply had informed Dr Samoon that it had no issues “if the airport hosts flights during night.”

The night landing had been a long pending demand from the tourism and business fraternity of the valley. Many delegations had met the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Union Defense Ministry to raise the matter.

In addition, the state’s tourism ministry earlier in 2013 had submitted its proposal to the Union Defense Ministry to add night and morning flights at Srinagar International Airport (SIA).

The former Union Defense Minister, A K Antony had also issued instructions to the airline companies to start night flights at SIA.

Last year the former Chief Minister, Late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed had also communicated the Civil Aviation Ministry to start night landing at SIA.

“It is indeed a welcome step from tourism point of view. This has been our long pending demand as night flight facility can further improve our tourism. It will definitely lure the corporate tourists who are considered high end spenders to valley. Accordingly it will provide an impetus for the development of infrastructure to cater the high end tourist in valley,” said President Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir (ATAAK), Rauf Tramboo said.

The business community believed that the night landing facility at SIA will improve the business sector of valley.

And from New Delhi to Srinagar, the last flight will leave New Delhi between 7-7:30 pm. The SIA will be made compatible for night landing by improving its infrastructure.